| WKSR: Archived News |
|
DA's Kick Off Statewide Fight Against Drug Abuse
Posted on October 17, 2012
District Attorney Mike Bottoms and fellow Tennessee district
attorneys have kicked off a statewide campaign to fight the rising rates of
prescription medication and synthetic drug abuse among Tennessee's youth. The
campaign is called Deceptive Danger, because Tennessee's youth is deceived into
thinking that any substance prescribed by a doctor or purchased in a convenience
store is safe. Campaign materials include a new educational DVD, two posters and a
brochure. In addition, the district attorneys will be making presentations and
distributing the materials to public middle and high schools across the state,
supported by a partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education.
The Deceptive Danger campaign follows an increase in prescription medication and
synthetic drug abuse in Tennessee. The rise in prescription drug abuse prompted law
enforcement to focus their attention on fraudulent prescriptions, the operations of
pain management clinics or "pill mills," and those dealing prescription medications
illegally.
Tennessee lawmakers enacted stricter and more specific laws earlier this year
dealing with synthetic drug use as well. The new laws make the sale and use of all
synthetic drugs illegal. Previously, synthetics manufacturers were continuously
skirting the law by changing the chemical composition of the synthetic drugs. The
unknown composition of synthetic drugs makes them especially dangerous, and their
effects are unpredictable. Deceptive Danger complements these law enforcement and
legislative actions with increased public awareness.
"Not everything with a bar code is safe," said General Bottoms. "Though they can
sometimes be found in convenience stores, synthetic drugs are illegal and dangerous.
The Deceptive Danger campaign will educate Tennessee schools and communities about
the threats these drugs pose."
The Deceptive Danger DVD shows real Tennesseans fighting through potentially deadly
addictions to prescription medications and synthetic drugs. Their stories reveal how
devastating these addictions are. The video contains information about the dangers
of prescription medication and synthetic drug abuse and the legal consequences of
using and selling these substances.
"Prescription medication and synthetic drug abuse is a growing problem in Tennessee,
and one that we must curb as quickly as possible," said Guy Jones, deputy director
of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. "The Deceptive Danger
campaign gives our DAs a chance to show young Tennesseans the repercussions of using
these drugs that may appear relatively harmless to them at first. Everyone needs to
know these drugs are very dangerous."
For more information about Deceptive Danger or to schedule a presentation for your
school or organization, please call General Mike Bottoms at (931) 762-7777.
About Deceptive Danger
Deceptive Danger is a prescription and synthetic drug use education campaign
organized by the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference in 2012. It is
designed to inform young Tennesseans of the dangers of these drugs before they face
dire consequences. This campaign includes an educational Deceptive Danger DVD, a
poster focused on prescription drugs, a poster focused on synthetic drugs, and a
brochure covering both prescription and synthetic drug use and the legal
consequences. For more information about Deceptive Danger, visit
www.tndagc.org.
|
|
